Welcome Jacey Rose!

I have tried to post this blog twice with cute commentary, the details (well, not all details) of Jacey's birth and a few interesting things about the day she was born and our stay in the hospital. Twice I've had it all typed out and ready and twice I've hit "publish" and twice it has failed so I have given up on that part for now. Here are some pictures from her first day. We are back at home now and hopefully soon we'll be adjusting to life with a newborn again. So far, she is a great baby. I think she might not even bother me to eat unless I make her! I'll try to get the energy up to post the stories again but for now, enjoy the pictures! :)

Jack waiting for Jacey to arrive. He was such a trooper at 2:00 am!

Looking a little worn out.

Helping Moma Jo pass the time.

Here she is!

She found her thumb right away and so far that seems to satisfy her. She doesn't have much of an appetite yet but I'm hoping that will change.

She's a good snuggler, too.

This picture is really dark, but I love Jack's expression. He's been a very good big brother so far.

I think she's a keeper!

First family of 4 photo. Not too bad for 2 am!

Jack's giving Jacey the bunny he got for her. It slept in her crib the whole time she was in the hospital.

Still looking a little worn out but hanging in there.

Jack is right, she is so cute!

He likes to sit right with whoever is holding her.

Holding his sister for the first time.

Maybe one of my new favorite pictures.

Popo might like her a little.

She's really stressed out. Stay tuned for more!

Happy Easter!

I figured I better get this round of pictures up before someone else took center stage for awhile. I hope you all had a very Happy Easter!

Coloring Eggs.

Being very easy putting the eggs in the dye.

Making his Easter nest with Daddy. This is a German tradition that Jarred's family always did. We made one for the first time last year when we spent Easter with Jarred's family and decided to continue.

Decorating the nest with flowers.

After prepping for Easter by making eggs and a nest, you have to get the yard ready. Jack's taking a break from helping Popo pull weeds.

Ready to go back to work.

Pulling weeds makes a boy very hungry! Saturday was beautiful so we enjoyed supper outside.

My tulips bloomed just in time for Easter!

The Easter Bunny found his nest!

Searching for all 23 eggs. 11 hard boiled and 12 candy filled.

Isn't he super cute?

He got a new spotting scope from the Easter Bunny (AKA Grandma & Grandpa) and he's searching for the woodpecker in the tree.

This face is still cute even with chocolate all over it.

Yep, I'm still pregnant.

Rolling a few cars with Daddy.

He's trying to close one eye to see better, but I have a feeling both eyes are closed.

Taking a break from the sun. The weather was beautiful once again today and we spent nearly all of it outside.

Chillin' with Moma Jo.

Being silly with Popo.

We had a wonderful Easter weekend! Now, for our next order of business.

A Few Videos

Here are a few videos of Jack singing and playing his drums. In one he's singing "Big Green Tractor" and in the other, "Hotel California". You have to listen pretty closely to hear what he's singing but you can get the gist of the song. The other video is of Jack and Abbott at about 10:00 pm on the Friday night they came to town last week. You can see how much fun they have and how silly they are together. Unless we do something super exciting between now and the time Jacey's born, hopefully the next blog post will be to show her off to you!

Zoo Day

There were 2 reasons to go to the zoo on Saturday. 1) It was a beautiful, sunny day and 2) to get me to go into labor. #2 didn't happen but it was still a great day. It started out with a manicure, pedicure and lunch with friends, then a trip to the zoo and ended with one of the best hamburgers in Knoxville from Litton's and Kentucky losing in basketball. We didn't take the camera to the zoo, mostly because we have a lot of pictures at the zoo and I didn't want to lug it around. I'm already lugging around enough. :) Jarred did take some with his phone, so I thought I'd share those. We also have a new baby chimp at the zoo who is very very cute, so we got some video of him playing around.

A bear, chillin' in a tree.

George, the baby chimp.

On of the red pandas soaking up the sun.

Jack checking out the river otters. They were very playful and he could have stayed and watched them all day.

A river otter, showing off.

Helping groom the goats, which I might add are the best groomed goats in town.

George playing with his tire.

Funny Stories

Today, I dropped off Jack at school and his first words to his teacher were, "I have a song that I like to listen to and it's called Hotel California." Funny thing about this is that he is obsessed with Hotel California. Kelly & I grew up listening to The Eagles so I figured it was my responsibility to raise Jack listening to great music, too. He thinks that Don Henley only sings and plays drums on Hotel California and had a little meltdown when I tried to tell him he played drums and sang on lots of songs. He is slowly agreeing to listen to other songs, but Hotel California is still the favorite. He's almost got all the words and most of the drum parts learned. I've taken video so I'll try to post it soon. Anyway, back to school... when I went to pick him up one of his teachers told me that he wanted to play the drums and wanted the class to sing Hotel California. Unfortunately, no one knew the words. This upset him, of course. How could no one know the words to Hotel California?? Especially 3 years olds. Gees. Fortunately, a teacher from the class next door knew some of the words so I think that satisfied him.

When we got home, Super Jack mowed our driveway. :)

Another funny story is about my super huge baby belly. I was at Target on Sunday and as I walked around a clothes rack a woman looked at my belly and said, "WHOA!" Thanks, lady. It doesn't end there, of course. The check out lady at Office Depot today said to me, "How are you walking around?" I know I'm only 8 days from my due date, and I AM big, but I don't really need to be reminded of it! Since I'm so enormous, I thought I'd post some belly pictures for you to gawk at. Go ahead, tell me how insanely big I am and that there's no way I should be able to function right now. :) Here's my belly 8 days out from my due date.

Welcome, Spring!

I convinced Kelly & Abbott to come to Knoxville for the weekend to help celebrate my birthday. The weather was gorgeous and we had so much fun playing outside, finally! Kelly made me some more cupcakes and we ate birthday lunch at Abuelo's, it was a perfect weekend! The only thing that would have made it better would have been for Jacey to make her arrival! Just look how much fun we had!

Abbott rocked out on Jack's guitar.

They ate dinner together at the "kid's table".

Is he cool or what?

They are trying to get a limb out of the tree.

Waiting to catch the frisbee.

Kelly got it!

Discussing life over suckers.

Just chillin'.

Playing Candy Land with Moma Jo.

If you didn't really believe that these boys had fun together, just look at this face!

Taking a picture of Popo taking a picture of me.